FBC Carthage E-News for March 16, 2009

FBC Carthage E-News
March 16, 2009

Good morning,

As the official last week of winter begins I can truthfully say, “I am ready for spring.” The official first day of Spring is Friday, March 20 and with the trees and flowers blooming I am feeling warmer weather coming.

Spring is also a time I think of new life as everything begins to emerge from the dreariness of winter. It is a time of refreshment and renewal. Spring is a great time for us to have a series of revival services to focus of the Lord Jesus Christ and experience renewal in our spiritual walk with Him. Our Spring Revival will be held April 5-8 with Bro. Jimmy Napier as the Evangelist. This Spring Revival will also be a time of spiritual refreshment as we hear God’s word preached and sing the hymns of faith and hope. I am praying, as I hope you are as well, for this to also be a time of new life, new spiritual life as people come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Make your plans to attend each service and invite your family and friends to attend with you.

Over this past weekend my family and I had a chance to drive to Jackson, Tennessee to visit with our oldest daughter, Jill, who turned twenty on Sunday. We had a great visit with Jill even though it was a quick visit. On the way home and all day Sunday I thought about how quickly time in general is passing. I thought of the twenty years that were passed since we first experienced the joys of being new parents. How quickly the preschool years passed and then it was time for her to start school. Elementary, Junior High and then High School are just a blur of memories in my mind. Twenty years of life. Twenty years of memories.

The point I want to make to you is to slow down and experience your life. If your children are still at home, enjoy the days because soon they will be grown. We all need to keep in perspective the true importance of life and make the most of each day. The relationship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ and the relationships we have with people are what living is all about. As the bumper sticker says, “Have you hugged your child today?” Set aside some extra time today or this week to make a call, a visit or write a letter to the family member of friend you have had on your mind. Be a blessing to someone today and you will find that you are blessed in return.

Have a great week.
Bro. Tim


Here’s the news:

1. We welcome David Miller as our newest member at FBC Carthage. David came forward Sunday morning publicly professing his faith in Jesus Christ and wishing to join the church through baptism. Pray for David as he follows the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Our sympathy goes to Suzanne Angel in the death of her mother, Anne Ratledge. Her funeral service is Monday, March 16 at 11:00 AM. We also lift up the family of David Carr, one of my classmates from High School. His service will be Monday, March 16 at 3:00 PM. You can leave a note for either of these families on the guestbook at the Sanderson Funeral Home web site http://www.sandersonfh.com/guestbook.html.

3. I mentioned the Spring Revival, April 5-8 in the first of this E-news. In preparation for the revival we will have a series of Cottage/Home Prayer Meetings during the week before. You are invited and encouraged to attend at least one of the prayer meetings. This year these times of prayer will be held in the three areas of our community:
Monday, March 29 @ 6:30 PM South Carthage
Jeremiah and Hailey Wilkerson, Hosts
29 County House Road

Tuesday, March 30 @ 6:30 PM Carthage
Brad and Melody Tackett, Hosts
740 Jackson Avenue

Wednesday, April 1 @ 6:30 PM Tanglewood
Tommy and Mary Hight, Hosts
51 Morris Drive

4. Also in preparation for our Spring Revival services, we will have cards and door hangers printed up this Sunday for you to distribute to your friends, family and neighbors. The theme of this revival will be “A Fresh Start.” Who do you know that needs a fresh start in life? A fresh start in their relationships? A fresh start with the Lord? Invite them to attend these services with you.

5. To better provide space for everyone to attend, we will begin a second morning worship service at 8:00 AM on Sunday, April 5. Sunday School will continue to be held at 9:30 AM and the second service will continue to be held at 10:45 AM.

6. Speaking of Sunday School, we had a new young adult class begin this Sunday with five in attendance. The class if for those in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. Steve and Ellen Deaver are leading the class.

7. The church voted last Wednesday night to create a Full-Time Minister to Youth and Music position for FBC Carthage. The Personnel Committee will receiving resumes through the church office. Please join with the committee as we pray earnestly for the person the Lord would have for this position.

8. The Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions is being received this month. The church web site has two great links as the Links of the Week describing the work of NAMB and the more than 5500 missionaries serving in the United States and Canada. Pray for the work. Give to the offering. Be a part of touching this hurting nation for Jesus Christ.

9. Vacation Bible School will be here before you know it and now is the time to sign-up to be a worker. A sign-up desk is located on the second floor of the Educational Building or you can call the church office. The VBS training event will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 9AM at the First Baptist Church in Gordonsville. All workers are encourage and urged to attend.

10. The March Youth Connect event will be held Saturday, March 28 at 6:00 PM in the Christian Life Center. There will be games, refreshments and time to visit with your friends. These Youth Connect events are designed as a time to invite friends from school to join you. Youth Connect is for students, grades 7-12.